Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 29

Genealogies of Svāyambhuva Manu, the Appearance of Yajña, and Atri’s Sons

Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Śiva Expansions

Devanagari script

मैत्रेय उवाच इति तस्य वच: श्रुत्वा त्रयस्ते विबुधर्षभा: । प्रत्याहु: श्लक्ष्णया वाचा प्रहस्य तमृषिं प्रभो ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

maitreya uvāca iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā trayas te vibudharṣabhāḥ pratyāhuḥ ślakṣṇayā vācā prahasya tam ṛṣiṁ prabho

Translation

弥勒耶说道：听到阿特里牟尼如此陈述，那三位至高天神含笑，以柔和甘美之语答复这位圣仙。

Synonyms

• मैत्रेयः: Maitreya
• मैत्रेयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• वचः: speech; words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विबुध-ऋषभाः: bulls among the gods; foremost celestials
• विबुध-ऋषभाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुध (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विबुधानां ऋषभाः)

• प्रत्याहुः: replied
• प्रत्याहुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-आह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• श्लक्ष्णया: with gentle
• श्लक्ष्णया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• वाचा: speech; words
• वाचा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रहस्य: having smiled/laughed
• प्रहस्य: Kriya (क्रिया/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ऋषिम्: the sage
• ऋषिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition to तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• the three Vibudharṣabhas (three foremost demigods)
• the sage (unnamed in this verse)

FAQs

Who is speaking in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.1.29 and what is happening?

Maitreya is narrating that three exalted demigods, after hearing the sage’s words, responded to him politely and with a smile.

Why did the three demigods reply with gentle words to the sage in Bhagavatam 4.1.29?

The verse highlights the cultured Vedic etiquette of honoring sages—responding with softness and respect, even while engaging in discussion.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 4.1.29 for modern life?

Speak respectfully and calmly—especially in disagreements—because spiritual culture values gentle, considerate communication.